Melissa McCarthy is becoming the female John Candy with likability and ability to deliver one-liners with 2013 bringing smash hits with Identity Thief and The Heat with Sandra Bullock. Now, comes Tammy and while McCarthy delivers, it becomes a series of short stories.

A passion project by McCarthy and her real life husband/director Ben Falcone centers around Tammy, a fast food worker that's having the worst day of her life. Recently fired, finding her husband (Nat Faxon) is cheating on her with the next-door neighbor (Toni Collette). It's the little things like a romantic dinner for two can constitute cheating, her mother (Allison Janney) never believing that when Tammy says she's leaving, always coming back. It takes Grandma (Susan Sarandon) and her wad of cash to set them on the road.

It starts off well but it's after they hit the road is where the film becomes 4 Tammy film shorts. One features on an love interest (Mark Duplass) that's just an all-around good guy for her. Another features an road trip with Grandma featuring random and wacky physical humor as they tour the USA. Third sets on the Fourth of July where inner demons come spewing out while at her Grandma's friends' manor. Finally, an awkward robbery involving paper bags swiftly goes from hilarious to deadly serious drama as Tammy is taken to jail. 2 out of 4 were entertaining.

Thankfully, enough laughs from McCarthy. Don't know how she does it, but effortlessly pulls off one-liners. The cast looks like they are having a great time especially Sarandon and Kathy Bates (in an extended cameo). The ladies know how to deliver when needed and forgiving the incredible age difference of Collette (41), McCarthy (43), Janney (54), and Sarandon (67)...what a messed up family.

Falcone doesn't have a grounded feel on the direction with the pacing of an tortoise and stuffing too much in a 96 minute running time.

Verdict: B-Tammy still has Melissa McCarthy's charm and make her fans happy enough. Topped with a veteran cast that's all in to make this watchable enough on a Friday night at home.

After Stephanie Meyer patronized its tween audience with the Twilight franchise, writer John Green begins the rebirth of well-acted tearjerkers with The Fault in Our Stars, where star Shailene Woodley delivers one of the best performances of the year.

Woodley is Hazel Grace Lancaster, a 16 year old cancer survivor struggling to live a normal life. She carries an oxygen tank otherwise her lungs fill up with water and begins to have trouble breathing. Wanting the simple things is a difficult thing for her, who wouldn't want a relationship, hanging with friends...etc. Sensing a "meet cute" situation about to happen. Luck would have it, running into Augustus Waters (Ansel Algort, Divergent) outside a cancer survivors meeting and during it, he can't get his eyes off Hazel even when the decorated athlete talks how he lost his leg and replaced with a steel pole. Attached with swagger and extraordinary self-confidence but Algort keeps him likable, I could tell with all the OMGs (last time I say an acronym) coming from the ladies at the screening I attended.

The strength of the film is the realism behind their relationship by exchanging smart, witty dialogue between each other, hang out together, and witness what they're texting thanks to the notebook-style visual bubbles as they type on their phones. Rare to actually watch an relationship develop and steady itself on the foundation it's built. The reason to them truly building something was Hazel describing the novel An Imperial Affliction at their meeting and Augustus was curious on the character, Anna, so he promised he would read it if she read The Price of Dawn.

Woodley is an magnetic force on the screen. Bringing the overly emotional but honest feeling to the already rich Hazel Grace Lancaster character. When she reacts, you would react the same way especially when she was with Augustus in Amsterdam. Laura Dern was the pitch perfect selection as Hazel's mom. Frannie. It's a complex character that has to deal with her daughter's condition daily and at the same time, stay calm. She's such a joy to watch and work with Woodley. It was endearing that Augustus had this one of a kind friend, Issac (Nat Wolff). A good hearted but naive young man going through a tough break-up but he gets his rightful, respectful revenge. Willem Dafoe appears as Van Houten, the author of An Imperial Affliction who plays it as a soul-breaking man who lashes out with a glass of whiskey in hand and a dirty bathrobe.

Director Josh Boone keeps the film grounded and never manipulates Green's words or the audience bringing character emotions to the forefront and making it heartfelt especially when towards the final 20 min where we watch complexity dominate as you try to keep the tears from falling. Reminiscent of films like Love Story and Terms of Endearment with humor and storyteliing makes this a must-see for the ladies. Thank goodness, I saw it with my girlfriend.

Verdict: A

The Fault in Our Stars succeeds with its independent performances and mature words from John Green's novel never being mawkish or cheesy. Showing that teenagers can be as smart as most adults, in fact don't be surprised if you see Woodley nominated for Oscar gold. One of the best of 2014

I won't lie to you, I'm a purist of originality so I despise remakes. Lost count at how many Hollywood has attempted and failed. However, once in a blue moon. one that actually makes it into his own and it was About Last Night. I'm not kidding.

In 1986, a classic date movie starred Rob Lowe and Demi Moore involving the Chicago cityline and an memorable baseball scenes (especially at Wrigley Field) It was based off David Mamet's play Sexual Perversity in Chicago. However, the move to Los Angeles and Dodger Stadium and putting different relationships from each gender keeps it grounded.

Danny (Michael Ealy) and Bernie (Kevin Hart) are single and partying it up at the Broadway Bar until Bernie shares a story about how crazy his latest date was with Joan (Regina Hall) until Danny finds out that Joan has a friend named Debbie (Joy Bryant) so once Joan and Bernie head off to the bedroom and not for the final time. Danny and Debbie hook up for a one-night stand and find themselves through the summer falling in love with each other deciding to try living with one another.

For once, it's good to see a date movie with smart and frank dialogue involving four likable characters. I will say this that in the '86 version, it was about twenty-somethings trying this out. Ealy is 40 and Bryant is 39 but dismiss it. Seriously, because they are charming, sweet and honest with each other from the beginning also showing off their acting chops when we see their shortcomings.

Kevin Hart and Regina Hall are alone worth the price of a ticket. I was busting a gut laughing every time these two got together, they are two passionately volatile people who work well together especially in the bedroom scenes. Credit to Director Steve Pink for letting these two high energy leads go at each other like lions mating. They also throughout all the screaming, yelling and cursing at one another. I find sweetness within how much Bernie and Joan care about each other.

However, they put a bit too much into a 100 minute running time. It gets a bit too overstuffed and cliches coming out by the minute, but that's really my only big gripe with this film.

Verdict: B+About Last Night doesn't fall into the vat of unnecessary remakes. Even with a change of venue, the charming cast delivers with great comic timing, smart dialogue and authenticity in relationships. This is kind of date movie that you want to take your boy/girlfriend to and walk out with a smile.